title: Perceptions about preventing hepatocellular carcinoma among patients with chronic hepatitis in Taiwan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure patient perceptions about preventing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to predict the factors that influence patient willingness to receive therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at an outpatient clinic of a medical institution in southern Taiwan. Four hundred patients with chronic hepatitis B/C were recruited as participants. Two structured questionnaires based on the health belief model were utilized in this study, including the scales of perceptions about preventing HCC and knowledge of hepatitis B/C.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The statistical results demonstrated that the participants' perceived susceptibility (r = -0.22, P < 0.001), benefits (r = -0.11, P = 0.028) and cues to action (r = -0.12, P = 0.014) about the prevention of HCC was significantly correlated with their age. The participants' perceptions were also associated with their educational levels, household incomes and knowledge of hepatitis. Older patients and those with a lower socioeconomic status tended to have negative perceptions and less knowledge of hepatitis. Multivariate logistic regression further indicated that the participants' age (B = -0.044, SE = 0.017, odds ratio = 0.957, P = 0.008, 95%CI: 0.926-0.989) and perceived barriers (B = -0.111, SE = 0.030, odds ratio = 0.895, P < 0.001, 95%CI: 0.845-0.949) were correlated with their willingness to receive antiviral therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Healthcare professionals should provide appropriate and effective guidance to increase their patients' awareness and to decrease the perceived barriers for continuing surveillance and antiviral therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 82445, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ya-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chien-Cheng
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Daw-Shyong
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Perng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001364:Awareness; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000821:virology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000821:virology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010465:Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents
keywords: Antiviral therapy; Health knowledge; Health perception; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis C; Hepatocellular carcinoma